TSA chief: Screening may evolve

Heeding a sudden furor, John Pistole, administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, said in a Sunday afternoon statement to POLITICO that airport screening procedures “will be adapted as conditions warrant,” in an effort to make them “as minimally invasive as possible, while still providing the security that the American people want and deserve.”

TSA's new flexibility comes as the government gears up for a flood of travel over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Administration officials say any changes are more likely to be in the implementation of the security procedures than in the security measures themselves.

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POLITICO 44

Pistole’s statement to POLITICO modified his vow a few hours earlier on CNN’s “State of the Union” that the procedures were "not going to change." Both President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said over the weekend that the administration was continually looking for ways to refine the screening to make it less intrusive and frustrating.

Here is the full text of the statement from Pistole, a former deputy director of the FBI:

"We welcome feedback and comments on the screening procedures from the traveling public, and we will work to make them as minimally invasive as possible, while still providing the security that the American people want and deserve. We are constantly evaluating and adapting our security measures, and as we have said from the beginning, we are seeking to strike the right balance between privacy and security.

“In all such security programs, especially those that are applied nationwide, there is a continual process of refinement and adjustment to ensure that best practices are applied and that feedback and comment from the traveling public is taken into account. This has always been viewed as an evolving program that will be adapted as conditions warrant, and we greatly appreciate the cooperation and understanding of the American people.

“We cannot forget that less than one year ago a suicide bomber with explosives in his underwear tried to bring down a plane over Detroit. The terrorists allegedly behind the thwarted cargo attempt last month are out there bragging about how they will strike again.

“We all wish we lived in a world where security procedures at airports weren't necessary, but that just isn't the case."

Let the man do his job. Why does everything has to be politicize? Some of the same people who were all for the Patriot Act 'as long as it keeps us safe' are now trying to tell the TSA how to screen at airport. What will they say if we get attacked? Some things like our national security need not be politicize. This is not a republican or democratic issue. This patriot is just trying to do his job and keep us SAFE.

This is a prime example of how political correctness has gone awry. In this article, one journalist talks about how his disabled 14-year old daughter is singled out and padded down -every- -single- -time- they try to fly. Why? Because of her wheelchair, for one...but the egregious thing is that, with a few exceptions (such as his daughter), the TSA is required to "randomly" pick passengers for screening.

In the article, he notes that out of the 5 people that he saw being screened (including his daughter), all of them were women--one about 80, the other over 60. Forgive me, but have there been any terrorists that fit that demographic in, well...ever?

But hey, it isn't singling out anyone, so nobody's feelings get hurt because they were lumped in with other people that had the same ethnicity/background/skincolor as they, who had killed people.

Of course, that's just not how the real world works...and instead of focusing on effective targeting measures and psychological profiling, we're focusing on being politically correct.

There is a time to do what works, and a time to dream about the way things should be. We can talk all day about how 80 year-old women are just as likely to commandeer passenger flights as wild-eyed Middle-Easterners with smoke billowing out of their orifices...but I imagine that the distinction takes on a different significance when you or your loved one are staring down the aisle at your flight attendant, who just spilled your martini because of the box cutter at her neck. And no, it won't be the 80-year old woman who is wielding it...

I would like to apologize in advance to any of the good Middle-Eastern citizens who make up the vast majority of that populace in the United States...it's unfortunate that you should have to bear the weight of the anger that has been directed towards others who share your lineage. However, I stand by my assertion that they should be spending more time searching those who fit the demographic/profile of those who have historically been more likely to commit terrorist attacks (which basically would include males under 40, of which I am one). If our goal is to catch fish, it makes no sense to cast our nets onto the dry sand...

Why not hire ex-Israeli airport screeners? They know what to look for. ARABS! Muslims! And they are not shy about zeroing in on the likely bomb carriers. Political correctness is costing us tons of hard cold cash, which we are running out of. The salaries of all these TSA idiots, and the dollar cost of airport delays, can be measured in terms of lost productivity, etc.

Studies have been done which proove that city and freeway traffic delays cost a measurable amount of potential productivity, meaning lost dollars. This is a real issue. Sure it is a small amount of money, in the overall scheme of things. But little things add up. The red tape which strangles small business in this country is now worse than many 3rd world countries.

Terrorists are going to be Muslims, almost certainly. Focus on them. Interview them, by people who have been trained to watch for signs of deception, and then interview them again, by a different screener, and maybe even a 3rd time. That is what they do in Israel, and so far their record is perfect.

Let the man do his job. Why does everything has to be politicize? Some of the same people who were all for the Patriot Act 'as long as it keeps us safe' are now trying to tell the TSA how to screen at airport. What will they say if we get attacked? Some things like our national security need not be politicize. This is not a republican or democratic issue. This patriot is just trying to do his job and keep us SAFE.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

The meaning of the term unreasonable searches will have to be clarified by the SCOTUS, else the entire airline many find themselves defunct operations.

Why not hire ex-Israeli airport screeners? They know what to look for. ARABS! Muslims! And they are not shy about zeroing in on the likely bomb carriers. Political correctness is costing us tons of hard cold cash, which we are running out of. The salaries of all these TSA idiots, and the dollar cost of airport delays, can be measured in terms of lost productivity, etc.

Studies have been done which proove that city and freeway traffic delays cost a measurable amount of potential productivity, meaning lost dollars. This is a real issue. Sure it is a small amount of money, in the overall scheme of things. But little things add up. The red tape which strangles small business in this country is now worse than many 3rd world countries.

Terrorists are going to be Muslims, almost certainly. Focus on them. Interview them, by people who have been trained to watch for signs of deception, and then interview them again, by a different screener, and maybe even a 3rd time. That is what they do in Israel, and so far their record is perfect.

I agree with some of what you said here.

We should really look into how Israel does airport security since they've had decades of experience in this area.

Napolitano refuses to protect our southern borders where any terrorist can walk into the Country with weapons of mass destruction. Americans are now being sexually abused by Government thugs and a full trashing of our 4th Amendment rights. Fire Napolitano, Holder, TSA and all of the other thugs and czars in this corrupt government.

Yes, Mr. Pistole, let's not forget that it was a year ago when a young man's father came to authorities and, in the strongest of terms, suggested that his son could pose a danger to the public. Let's not forget that those pleas from this man were ignored. Let's not forget that this young man's one-way ticket was purchased with cash and he had bags to check in. Let's not forget who dropped the ball in this case, and in most other cases, making the lives of ordinary travelers more and more intolerable. Let's not forget...

Yes, Mr. Pistole, let's not forget that it was a year ago when a young man's father came to authorities and, in the strongest of terms, suggested that his son could pose a danger to the public. Let's not forget that those pleas from this man were ignored. Let's not forget that this young man's one-way ticket was purchased with cash and he had bags to check in. Let's not forget who dropped the ball in this case, and in most other cases, making the lives of ordinary travelers more and more intolerable. Let's not forget...

Well this issue is of great concern, thing is though, there are other people in the world who have been dealing with suicide bombers and terrorist zealots for decades. That would be the Israeli's. Just follow the best practices that they have evolved over the decades and you will be fine, no reason to reinvent the wheel (and infuriate countless registered voters in the process, but hey, don't listen to me ;-) ).